Steering apparatus



. NIE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN A. MORLEY, OF SODUS POINT, NEW YORK.

STEERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,210, dated August 17, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. Mon- LnY, of Sodus Point, in the countyof Wayne and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Apparatusfor Operating the Rudders of Vessels; and I do hereby declare that thesame is described and represented in the following specications anddrawings.

' To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention Iwill proceed to describe its construction and operation referring to thedrawings in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of thefigures.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention with a section of the deck andtaffrail of a vessel. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation.

The nature of my invention consists in a combination and arrangement ofgearing and shafts to operate the rudders of vessels and allow themample room to traverse perpendicularly and vibrate slightlyhorizontally. l

-In the accompanying drawing A, is a section of the taffrail, and B, thesection of the deck of a vessel, with the stem or shaft N, of a rudderprojecting up through it, as shown in section Fig. 2.

C, is a post firmly fastened to the deck, and D, is a bar or girderfirmly fastened to the taffrail and to the post C.

I, is a horizontal shaft fitted to turn freely in the post C, and box E,(fastened on the bar D). This shaft has the steering wheel H, fastenedto it by which it may be turned to operate the pinions J, J, fastened toit, which pinions act on the gears K, K, to turn the shafts L, L, `andpinions L, L, which act on the opposite sides of the gear M, fastened tothe rudder head or shaft N, to turn it, and vibrate the rudder, to steerthe vessel as desired. The shafts L, L, are fitted to turnin the bar D,and in boxes fastened to the deck B, as shown in section Fig. 2. Thepinions L, L', are made longer than the gear M, so as to allow it totraverse perpendicularly or be shoved up between the pinions should therudder strike the bot-tom or otherwise be moved upward, and the backlashor play in the gears and shafts will allow the head of the rudder tovibrate slightly horizontally or transversely, if the hole in the deckis large enough to permit it to do so.

The collar R, on the shaft I, may be so placed as to allow the shaft totraverse a little, or have a little play endwise; so that the pinions'J, J, may act with the same power or force on each of the gears K, K,and the hole in the box E, may be enlarged or made a little broader,horizontally, so as to let the end of the shaft I vibrate a little forthe same urpose if desirable. This gearing may al be inclosed by a boxthe top of which is shown at F, and a circular case Gr, put around thatportion of the wheel K, which projects through the post C.

Some of the advantages of my invention may be enumerated as follows: Therudder may traverse perpendicularly or rise and fall without derangingthe gearing or disturbing any part of the work, hence it is perfectlyreliable at all times, and under all circumstances when the rudder isunobstructed. The pinions act equally on the opposite sides of the wheelon the rudder head, so that there is the least possible friction. Thesize and strength of the gearing may be varied to adapt it to thecircumstances in which it is to be used and to vary its force or powerto the resistance to be overcome; while at the same time it is morecompact and durable than most of the inventions for the same purpose.

I believe I have described and represented the apparatus which I haveinvented for operating the rudders of vessels, so as to enable anyperson skilled in the art to make and use it.

by Letters Patent to wit:

1. I claim the'combination of gears and shafts, arranged substantiallyas described, for operating the rudders of vessels and at the same timeallow them ample room to traverse perpendicularly and vibrate slightlyhorizontally. i

2. And in combination with the above I claim making the journals of theshaft I, longer than the boxes in which it turns, or elongating the holein the box E, so the shaft can vibrate horizontally, or both of thesedevices comb-ined to accommodate the pinions J, J, and make them actwith the same power or force on each of the gears K, K, as described.

FRANKLIN A. MORLEY.

Witnesses:

CON. A. WAIDRON, Jr. C. A. WALDRON.

90 I will now state what I desire to secure

